Cleaning spray



July 16, 1940. W. J, HOOPER 2,208,031

CLEANING SPRAY Filed Feb. 5, 1938 Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE half to Harold A.

Hooper, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 5, 1938, Serial No. 188,858

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel cleaning spray and more particularly to a dental spray device for individual home use. This device is adapted to be readily and easily utilized and operated with but one hand by the user for cleaning his teeth by the application of a relatively fine spray o-r jet of Water under pressure to forceably dislodge particles which collect on or in the interspaces between the teeth.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a dental cleaning spray adapted to be readily connected to a liquid supply faucet and provided with a positive, quick acting and highly sensitive valve construction adapted to be operated by the application of a slight thumb pressure by the user. It thus requires the use of but one hand.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dental cleaning spray having a novel and simplified valve construction comprising a minimum number of operating parts. The valve is quick and positive in operation and the spray can be accurately and positively controlled by the user. v

f Another object of the invention is to provide a novel dental spray so constructed and arranged that the parts may be quickly assembled, disassembled and/or replaced and thus permitting quick and easy access to the interior. With this device may be utilized several nozzles, so that the dental spray may be used by diierent members of the household merely by replacing the nozzle, and without danger of contracting any contagious mouth infections.

vice having a readily accessible chamber for receiving ymedications or antiseptics, with the chamber located for most efficient operation.

In the drawing: y

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the novel spray connected to a liquid supply faucet.

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical cross section through the spray construction with the valve in operative or closed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in rear elevation of the valve member in operative position with the body of the spray shown in vertical cross section.

Fig, 4 is a view in perspective of the valve member.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View part in vertical cross section and part in side elevation of the novel valvel operating member.

Fig 6 is a view in vertical cross section, through an alternate nozzle construction equipped with a 55 pressure control device.

Another object is to provide a novel spray de? (Cl. 12S- 229) Referring more particularly to the disclosure in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the novel spray I is shown as connected to a liquid supply faucet 2 by means of a faucet connector 3 and hose 4. This faucet connector is preferably constructed of soft rubber or the like which permits the connector to be readily slipped over the spout or outlet of various size faucets. A chain or the like 5 may be slipped over or around the faucet handle when m use.

The novel spray is preferably constructed of a plurality of detachable parts which may be quickly assembled or disassembled to secure access to the interior. It consists of a handle 5 adapted to be grasped by the user and provided with a medication chamber A and threaded plug 'I to which the hose 4 is attached, a body part B and a nozzle member 9 having a small discharge opening.

Within the body part is a valve member I il hav ing the opposite sides II cut away to provide spaced discharge passages. On its face it is provided With an annular valve I2, While the upper part of the valve member is provided with a rearwardly extending lip I 3 and on its rear face with a stud I4. At the front of the body part there is provided a removable valve seat consisting of Washers I5, I5a, constructd of rubber or other non-metallic and resilient material positioned on the opposite sides of an annular seat I6, each formed with an aligned opening for the passage of liquid therethrough.

The rear of the body part is provided with a removable end Wall or collar Il having a shank I8 slotted for the reception of a screw driver to permit the ready removal of this end Wall and the rubber or resilient Washers I9. This end Wall I'I is also formed to provide a seat for the rear end of a spring or tension member 2U having its forward end encompassing the stud I4 and tending to normally close and retain the valve in its closed position.

In order to open the valve aaginst the force of the spring and pressure of the liquid supply, the invention comprehends a thumb-actuated plunger 2|v slidable in a bushing 22 threaded in the upper side of the body part 8 and provided with a relatively large head or button 23. A rubber or resilient and self-lubricating dam or diaphragm 24 is anchored in position between a Washer 25 and the bushing 22 and the shoulder 26 formed in the upper Wall of the body 8, to form a liquid-tight seal. The plunger seats against the diaphragm 24 and the lip I3 of the valve, and When pressed downwardly, tilts or pivots the valve member on its lower edge to thereby withdraw the valve from its seat and permit the discharge of the requisite or desired quantity of liquid about the sides of the valve member and through the nozzle.

Aconnector or plug 'l is threaded in the end of the handle for connecting the spray to the hose G. By providing a relatively large and easily accessible medication chamber A in the handle, the user is enabled to insert a considerable volume of an antiseptic or liquid mouth wash.

Fig. 6 discloses a modified form of spray having a handle 21, a body part 28 and a nozzle 29 adapted for irrigating other parts or organs of the body, with the nozzle provided with a relatively large medication chamber B. In place of a single discharge opening, this nozzle may be provided with a plurality of perforations or openings 30. In order to prevent the medication from clogging up the perforations, as where medicated pellets are used, the invention comprehends providing a filter screen or mesh 3| adjacent the openings. In this form of the invention the body part 28 is provided at its forward end with a removable valve seat 32 having a flexible washer .'33 against which the valve closes, and at its other end with an end wall 3 having a projection forming a coupling for attaching the end of the hose 4.

It also discloses a similar valve construction but in the disclosed embodiment I provide a pressure control comprising a threaded bushing or sleeve 35 formed or provided on the metal .seat 33 and adapted to receive a threaded plug 36. In order to allow for control ofthe pressure of the discharged liquid, the bushing or sleeve 35 is provided with longitudinally extending slots 3l adapted to be uncovered in varying amounts by adjustment of the threaded plug 3S and thereby allowing for a variation or adjustment of the pressure of the liquid discharged or escaping l through the uncovered slots.

v From the above description it will be apparent that the spray is formed of a minimum number of parts in which the nozzle, body part and handle are all threadedly connected for ready assembly, but may be quickly disassembled for replacement of parts, as for example, the replacement of the rubber or resilient washers. The device requires the use of but one hand for holding and manipulation, and the novel construction of the valve and thumb-actuated member for operating the Valve, is positive and quick in operation so that the spray is particularly well adapted for individual home use. Access to the valve seat and valve requires merely the removal of the handle or nozzle, the plug 1 and shank I8 being slotted for insertion of a screw driver to facilitate a quick removal of these parts, and access to the valve and spring upon removal of the member I1.

Also by providing a medicating chamber in the handle as in Fig. 2 it isa simple matter to insert a large volume of liquid mouth wash, antiseptic or medication in the handle and then attach the handle to the body part and nozzle without danger of spilling the contents.

Further advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the above description, claims and drawing, or are inherent in the device.

Having thus disclosed the invention,

I claim:

. 1. A dental cleaning liquid spray for individual home use adapted to be readily connected to a liquid supply faucet and easily and quickly utilized and operated with one hand by the user, consisting in a hollow handle, a body part and a nozzle, all detachably connected for ready assembly or disassembly, a valve seat and a valve member in the body part, said valve member having a fulcrum portion at its lower edge, and a rearwardly extending lip portion adjacent its upper edge, said body member having a seat for pivotally supporting said fulcrum portion of said valve member, means for normally retaining the valve member in seating engagement with the valve seat to prevent the discharge of liquid, discharge passages about the periphery of the valve member, and a thumb-operated, valve-actuating member adapted to engage the lip portion of the valve member to tilt this member and permit the discharge of liquid in an amount determined by the pressure applied by thek user to the thumboperated member.

2. A spray for individual home use and adapted to be operated with one hand by the user, comprising a handle part, a nozzle Aand a body part interposed between the nozzle and handle part, all arranged for ready detachment, a valve assembly Within the body -part and comprising a valve seat and a valve member said valve member having a fulcrum portion at its lower edge, and a rearwardly extending lip portion adjacent its upper edge, said body member having a seat for p-ivotally supporting said fulcrum portion of said valve member, means for actuating the valve member to openthe valve for discharge of the uid, and adjustable means between the valve assembly and nozzlefor controlling the pressure of the fluid issuing from the valve assembly, and a rubber diaphragm interposed between the valve lip member and the valve actuating member.

3. A ydental cleaning liquid spray for individual home use adapted to bereadily connected to a liquid supply faucet and easily and quickly utilized and operated with onehand by the user, consisting in a hollow handle, a body part and a nozzle, all detachably connected for ready assembly or disassembly, a valve seat and a valve member in the body part, said valve member having a fulcrum portion at its one edge, and a rearwardly extending lip portion adjacent its opposite edge, said body member having a seat for pivotally supporting said fulcrum portion of said valve membenmeans for normally retaining the valve member in seating engagement with the valve seat to prevent the discharge of liquid, and a thumboperated, valve-actuating-member adapted to engage the lip portion of the valve member to tilt this member and permit the discharge of liquid in an amount determined by the pressure applied by the user to the thumb-operated member.

WILLIAM J. HOOPER. 

